Tennessee: Thought Crimes in Force, Free Speech Criminalized

By Douglas V. Gibbs

In Tennessee a new law has been passed that makes it a crime to "transmit or display an image" online that may "frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress."

Violations result in the possibility of a year in jail, or up to $2,500 in fines.

The ban on distressing images updates an existing law which already makes it a crime to make phone calls, send emails, or to otherwise communicate with someone in a manner that would cause emotional distress, and that the sender "reasonably should know" that it would. And the intended recipient is not the only one that can be affected. If the courts decide that an image, for example, you posted would be upsetting to someone who sees it, and the court determines you should have known it would be upsetting, you could face months in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if someone it was not intended for happens to see it.

I don't care what the "good" intention is, this law is sinister, can be manipulated easily by groups like Islam, and is absolutely outside the original intent of the framers of the U.S. Constitution.

This law makes Orwell's 1984 seem tame.

The broadness of the legislation pretty much makes anything and everything suspect. Images of Mohammad, Jesus, or regarding any political opinion can all be considered upsetting to someone, somewhere.

This legislation is bad news, and a direct assault on American freedoms.

"But, we have to do something about..." my opposition may begin - with freedom comes responsibility. It is not the role of the government to make us responsible, that is up to us.

Besides, if I have an opinion that is upsetting to you, don't read my site or look over my shoulder at the images on my phone. Don't try to get government to silence me.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

NEW TENNESSEE LAW CRIMINALIZES FREE SPEECH, THOUGHT CRIMES: BANS POSTING IMAGES THAT "CAUSE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS" - Atlas Shrugs